Folding bed



March 23, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 18, 1949 FIG. I.

FIG-.3.

INVENT ATTORNEY V. GIUSEFFI FOLDING BED March 23, 1954 Filed March 18,1949 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 4.

Z7 35 Z4 Z6 25 ATTORNEY Patented Mar. 23, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE FOLDING BED Vincent Giusefi'i, South Orange, N. J.

Application March 18, 1949, Serial No. 82,035

4 Claims. (Cl. 5-2) The present invention relates to improvements infolding beds. More particularly, it relates to such improvements wherebya folding bed has novel and increased utility in either its folded orunfolded condition.

Three types of folding beds have been well known and extensively used inthe furnishings art: one, which is useful as an article of furnitureonly when it is unfolded and which is portable so that it may be storedin an out-of-the-way place when folded; another, whichsimilarly isuseful as an article of furniture only when it is unfolded but whichordinarily is not particularly portable since provision is made forstoring it simply by folding it into a receptacle disguised behind adummy door or within a dummy article of furniture; and a third, which isa sofa or couch when folded and a bed when unfolded. The first of thesethree types has the disadvantage that it requires a substantial storagespace near to the sleeping room and that it must be carried back andforth between that space and that room every time that it is used. Thesecond has the disadvantage of the obvious lack of utility of the dummyarticle of furniture other than its utility for concealing the bed. Thethird has the disadvantage that a couch which must be proportioned tomeet the functional requirement of containing a folded bed cannot befreely designed to meet aesthetic requirements of style and appearance.And in addition all three types,

at least in their most usual embodiments, have in common thedisadvantages that when unfolded into beds they offer less comfort andpoorer appearance than conventional beds.

It, is an object of this invention to devise a novel article offurniture which in an unfolded condition is a comfortable bed and whichin a folded condition is a credenza or break-front having other utilitythan merely that as a receptacle for folding portions on thebed such asits spring and mattress.

It is a further object of the invention to devise a novel article offurniture of the kind described above in which in the folded conditionthereof,

its said other utility is so apparent as to detract attention from itsprimary utility as a receptacle for the folding portions of the bed.

It is a further object of this invention to devise a novel article offurniture of the kind described above which, in addition to having thefeatures set forth above, is so arranged that when it is unfolded toserve as a bed it in fact serves not only as a bed but as a uniquelyserviceable combination of several articles of sleeping room furnituresuch as a very comfortable bed, a pair of appropriately positioned nighttables, and a pair of utilitarian and decorative dressing screens.

It is a further object of this invention to devise a novel article offurniture of the kind described above which includes novel mechanicalfeatures for facilitating folding and unfolding.

Other objects, features, and advantages will be apparent to thoseskilled in the art from the following detailed description of anillustrative embodiment of the invention and from the drawing in which:

Figs. 1 and 2 represent front and side elevations of an embodiment ofthe invention in its folded condition;

Fig. 3 represents a front view of the same embodiment in its unfoldedcondition;

Figs. 4 and 4b are sectional views of the lower portion of the articleof furniture shown in Figs. 1-3, the section being taken along the line44 shown in Fig. 3, which views respectively illustrate differentpositions which the spring and mattress sections and the headboard passthrough in the folding or unfolding of the bed;

Fig. 4a is a fragmentary front view of the lower left hand portion ofthe article of furniture to show details of an arrangement including apivot for supporting one side of the upper end of the bed and forpermitting it to be folded; and

Fig. 4c shows a portion of the arrangement shown in Fig. 4a.

Fig. 1 shows a break-front I having a lower portion 2 which, accordingto the present invention, provides a receptacle for components whichunfold to form a bed, and an upper portion 3 which has both utilitarianvalue in affording shelf space and psychological value in drawingattention away from the lower portion when it is closed to conceal thefolded bed. Shelves which vertically subdivide the interior space ofupper portion 3 may be used to carry books or, as shown in Fig. 1,figurines, small vases, and other bric-abrac having marked aestheticvalue and therefore, commanding more attention than the relatively plainand undecorated lower portion. The front area of lower portion 2actually comprises, as is more clearly shown in Fig. 3, four simplevertical panels 4, 5, 6 and 1. However, when the bed is folded and thepanels are moved to their closed positions as shown in Fig. 1, theyexpose to view on their respective outer surfaces, wooden and hardwareembellishments such as moldings, handles, and false key holes arrangedto impart the external appearance of a perfectly conventionalbreak-front or credenza. In the example upper portion of the credenza toand against a wall so that it will not be free to tilt forward: or tipover in a forward direction during folding or unfolding of the bed.This'ineans includes a hook 3 and an eye 9. Tha eyemay beet conventionalknown kind comprising a screw for fastening the eye into the wall and aloop for receiving the hook. For the purpose here intehd'edfitispreferable that the size of-;'the' loop be small with'r-espect to thediameter; ofthe engaging finger of the hook; so that there will-belittle free play. The hook includes a shank may be passedthrough a holein the 'ack panel ofupper portion rand-i externally threaded to receiveawing nut It, Obviously two or three of' these anchoring means may beemployed, "Moreover, the particular anchoring means'repre sented hereinby hook 8 and eye 9 is shown solely by way of example and obviously anyother convenient known means may be emplayed? In fact, if the breakfront' be made of heavy wood and made to stand squarely on" the floorthere will be many instancesfinwhich this element will-not berequired,

When the panels 4-, 5, E, and 1-- are opened to permit ilnfolding of thebed they may be positioned in swung-back positionsin which, in addiismbsineq i. Qi'ih ay. e ave t e usefulness of: serving as componentscontributing toform a pair of-screens located on opposite sides of thebed1 Thus two persons occupying asmall congested apartment may disrobewith a measure ofiinodesty behind the respective screens afiordedbythepanels 4 and fin combination with the left ar r th .h e rim fi i si b ia' igawi h e r ht i e- As l a d- F ure 3 the inner surfaces of; thepanels 4; 5; Egand I may be appropriately decorated: in a manner Qq siert iih his usef lne s e r n wh he iieinwhen un bea Ifor eg'ganrplatheymay be embellished in lacwe: ascendin t c ta w kn w rac W th q e iu fi ues Ch n se o apan ilQij iiQ th m y e. rw se dscqratedwith flowers,birds, or the like. In embodiments where is d ns' h as fibe -Owe r zmbe: il be h reb empha i d when he bdis unfolded-,whereas'its aspect asa living room may be emphasized by the external appearance of; the rakro t as e cr bed' q e d v o h ameniatiqn 9. the Ou id r aces Q f hPanels- In QNQ I nq ase. s ne s QT jt -i 3 $91901i F WPQ Q lQYe i t idfi l a Well a stib io em ha ize: the s t f h m as a bed chamber atsuchtimes, there are further provided a tuftedcovering for the headboardH--, a pair; of folding nigh-t tables I'2-and I3, nighttable lamps l5-and I6; and a reading lamp I'l which does'not appear-inFig'.S-althoughits positionlis indicatedbythe location oithereference numeralI]; and. its presence. is suggested: by. a group. of; radial. lines;intended; to. represent light tars. a well: as by.- a. chain. Ila.representing. the.

switch controlling mechanism for turning the reading lamp on and off.

The panels 4 and, 5 as well as the panels 6 and I, have their adjacentedges connected together either by hinges as shown in Fig. 3 or by anyother suitable means and each of the two articulating pairs of panelsthus formed is similarly hung to the forward edge of a respective one ofthe upright d s 5th? L W ion. Q ."Q e

Fig.4 is-a oros s-sectionorf Big 3; along the line 4-4. In it panel 1 isin the background swung back so far that only its edge which is hingedto the right upright side [8 can be seen. The top l9 of ni'ght table I3is shown hanging down against the surface of panel I suspended from ahinge which connects its upper edge to that surface. Also. shown. in thifigure is a strut 20 simihangin down from the inner surface of panel Ifrom a hinge which connects it thereto. In using the night table l3 itstop 19 is raised to a horizontal position and: strut 2fl-is ra'is'ed'toa point where; its free end engages a notch; the undersideof top l9 andthereby supportsit. Fhe wiring for lamp i=5 isnot shown as 'it maybe ofany conventional type. Of course provision must be made for the wiringtobefiexible. at the point where panel] ishinged to-upright side H3soar; to permit-openingand shutting.- of the: lower right frontdoorsorthe break-front. Obviously the arrangement of: night table i2;andthe wiring of lamp iE may-beof thesame kind In addition to;h'eadboard H; the: fill'ding portions include-upperbed: halt 2'4 andlower bed half- 22; which areh-inged together as shown in Fig. .4. Eachof thebed halves 2-1 22 consistsof a rigid structural 'unitcomprising ahalf boxspring-mattres'si The components of the presently disclosedarticle which bear the reference num'erals2 and; 22in the accompanyingdrawing are herein-referred to respeotively as the u-pper bed half andthe lower bed half -inasn nich as they arethe; parts of the beduponwhich the generally upper'andg lower portionsj'ot a; sleepers body willrestW-hen he is occupying the-beds; 'Ifhe uppm; and lower bedhalyes arefoldably connected together by suitable hinges 23 0f whieh only the onein the foreground appears in: the drawing and which are apprqpriatelyfastened between the respective frames ther coff whether those frames beintegral parts of the half box-spring mattress or separatestructures;for supporting them. At the headboard end'of; the upper bedhalf'there isa first pair of legs 2} o'f-whi'chonly the onein the foregroundappearsinFigures 454d, and lb'. Each of these legs is; fastened-'- to an oppositecorner 'of the upperbed-half" 21 atits headboard; end-and isrotatablyfastened to the lower portion '2 of the break front I byarespective one of; apairof pivots 25- oneof which appars in theforeground portion of'Fig. 4. Asisapparentfrom Figs. 4 and 4b when thebed is unfoldedtheupper bed half 2i is tilted forward from avertical-positiodto aho-rizontalone while; at the same timeits headboardendis raised and=its opposite end is lowered. Since this-is so it isobvious; that the height at which the pivots2 5 are fastened totherespective upright sides of the lower po'rtion- E'ci the breakfront iand the length of the-.fi-rsb pain of legs llrwillbelthemostimportant-factorsto determine the'height of thetopsurf-ace ofs thebed: when. it is unioldedc. Afipiral springihfiiisfittedzorer eachof the pivots 25;; it isiwoundaupttoloadzit withenerg-y;its inner. end; is..-.anchored to tha in 25; andi its outer endiisfastened.tothaassociatedbed leg 25 to. urge. itin. acounterclockwise.direction. (asfis.

4 is viewed looking down on the paper) for assisting in folding. Thedetails of the arrangement of the spring 26 are more clearly shown inFigs. 4a. and 4c.

The headboard II is attached to the top ends of the first pair of legs24 by spring loaded hinges 21 which tend to swing the headboard in acounter-clockwise direction (as Fig. 4 is viewed looking down on thepaper). The hinges 2! are of the kind which, even though they are springloaded, can only open to a point where the two sides of the hingeenclose an angle of 130 degrees and therefore lie in the same plane. Inthis way the headboard will assume the position shown in Fig. 4b whenthe bed has been unfolded even though the top edge of the headboard isno longer bearing against the back wall of the lower half of thebreak-front as shown in Fig. 4.

Fig. 4a shows in detail one suitable arrangement for the left one of thepivots 25, its associated spiral spring 26, and the left one of thefirst pair of bed legs 2%. In this arrangement one left pivot 25 isfastened to the inside surface of the left upright side 28 (of the lowerportion 2 of the break-front I) by a metallic plate 29 to which thispivot is firmly fastened, for example by being welded thereto at 30. Asshown in the example in Fig. 4a a bushing 31 may be inserted through thelower end of the bed leg 25 and fitted over pivot 25 to provide smoothand enduring operation. However, if desired the bed leg may be made ofhard wood and the bushing may be eliminated. A spring-adjusting sleeve32 which has a nut head 33 formed on the outer periphery of its rightend is also fitted over the left pivot 25 where it is free to rotateabout the pivot unless it is anchored by a cotter pin which may beinserted through a. hole 34 and a corresponding hole in pivot 25 withwhich it may be aligned. As shown in Fig. 4c the inner winding of theleft spiral spring 26 is anchored to the left spring-adjusting sleeve 32as to counter-clockwise rotation (as viewed in Figures 4 and 4c) of thissleeve with respect to this spring. Thus, in practice after the partsare assembled a wrench is placed over the nut head 33 and rotated in aclockwise direction (as seen facing the nut head end of sleeve 32) untilthe spring is loaded. As shown in Fig. 4c there is a straight extensionof the outer winding of the spiral spring 26 which affords an anchoringarm 35, and as is apparent from Fig. do this arm is bent leftward fromthe plane of the spiral spring in order that its end portion will be inalignment with the left bed leg 24 so that it may be fastened thereto byany appropriate means such as screws.

The lower bed half has a second pair of legs 36, of which only the onein the foreground appears in Fig. 4b, which are fastened to its foot endand each of which is equipped with a wheel mounted on its end which isnearest the floor when the bed is unfolded. The bed is folded byapplying an upwardly directed force near to the point where the upperand lower bed halves are hinged together. When this is done the upperand lower bed halves will start to jackknife together, the latterportion rolling along the floor supported by the legs 35 and theirrespective wheels; and finally a point will be reached where the wheelswill be lifted clear of the floor and the jackknifing of upper and lowerbed halves will approach completion. Since each of the legs 33 isfastened to one of the outer edges of the lower bed half it will notcollide with the upper bed half but will pass along one of its side sthereby permitting complete folding of the bed.

A third pair of bed legs 31 is provided as shown in Figs. 4 and 4b toavoid placing too great a strain on the articulation between the upperand lower bed halves.

What I claim is:

1. An article of furniture comprising a folding bed including upper andlower bed halves hinged together to be foldable for storage andunfoldable for use, the lower being shorter than the upper bed half asmeasured in a direction corresponding to the length of the unfolded bed;the far ends of said unfolded halves respectively constituting thehead-board end of the bed and its foot end; a receptacle for receivingthe folding bed, the receptacle including a back wall and two uprightsides; pivot means supported in said upright sides to afford an axis ofrotation for the upper bed half near its head-board end, said axisextending crosswise between the upright sides in a plane which is spacedsubstantially away from that of the bottom of the unfolded bed and isintermediate it and a surface on which the article of furniture isresting; means for supporting the head-board end of the upper bed halfon said pivot means so as to permit it to rotate about said axis forfolding into the receptacle, said means including a pair of legs eachattached at one of its ends to an opposite corner of said headboard endand extending at right angles therefrom in a direction which is downwardfor the unfolded condition of the bed and each rotatably supported at itother end on said pivot means near a respective upright side, wherebysaid headboard end is both lowered and moved toward said back wall as itis folded into the receptacle and it is both raised and moved away fromsaid back wall as it is unfolded out of the receptacle; a head-board;means articulating the bottom of the head-board to said head-board endand. yieldably urging the top of the head-board against said back wallso as to maintain it in a vertical position as the bed is unfolded andin nearly vertical positions as and after the bed is folded; and a pairof legs each attached at one of its ends to an opposite corner of thefoot end of the lower bed half and extending at right angles thereto ina direction which is downward for the unfolded condition of the bed andeach rotatably carrying a wheel at its other end to have the function,during folding of the bed, of carrying the weight of said foot end alonga surface on which the article is resting until a point is reachedwhereat the entire lower bed half will be lifted away from said surfaceand all of its weight carried by the upper bed half.

2. An article as in claim 1 which further oomprises a spring-loadablemeans for rotationally urging said upper bed half about said pivot meanstoward said back wall and means for anchoring said back wall to astationary structure, such as a wall of a room in which the article isbeing used, to prevent the spring-loadable means from having anundesired effect of tilting the receptacle forward while it is acting tofold the bed.

3. An article as in claim 1 in which said legs are spaced at least asfar apart as the width of the head-board end of the upper bed half.

4. An article as in claim 1 in which said receptacle further includestwo pairs of vertically hinged-together vertical panels each pair havingthe free vertical edge of one of its panels hinged to the front edge ofa respective upright side so hat impairs efimnals e am etoqant alon asdoors for closing the front of the receptaele ndlt sememcq iunctiem withhe. um shm i as ;dressi ng; soyeena whenthe recegtacle open,

the suriacesip said panelsxwhich are outside of cegsqriescharaoterizingit asan articievoflbedr m roomfurniture VINCENT GIUS EELName Date 8. Robinson. -8 Aug. 10,1869 Hansen Nov. 14,1876 Green. v Feb.17,1880 Meissner Oct. 31, I882 Condell Mar. 13, 1888 Pool Oct. 26,,19.15 Sinclair Feb. 6, 1934 PA'liEl-WIISv Country Date Great BritainI908

